The first time I took the Metro to work, I made a playlist on my iPod the night before so I’d have something to listen to early in the morning.
I was excited. I was intrigued. Here I was (with Matisyahu by my side) on the brink of starting something new in a place that was almost foreign to me.
Then it all just became another routine. Wake up. Get on the Metro. Go to work. Come back. Eat. Sleep. Wake up. Get on the Metro …
It’s not that that’s a bad thing. You know you’ve become comfortable with your surroundings when you’ve developed a daily routine you can comfortably adjust to.
But, to be honest, I don’t know if I’m ready for this ““ for a routine.
Kids, I am only 19.
I think that’s why I’m so excited to continue my travels ““ newness.
I have been in D.C. for eight weeks now, working for the legislative bureau of a foreign aid agency. In two weeks, I will be leaving this city for Athens to backpack around Europe. And for someone who likes change as much as I do, being a nomad sounds pretty appealing.
There’s a sense of thrill that’s charming about a new location, a quality that can sometimes get lost in a developing routine. And looking back, I can at times forget that allure that made me come to love D.C. in the first place.
Maybe it’s because Congress is out of session this month, or because the humidity has been salaciously flirting with the heat, resulting in disturbingly uncomfortable weather.
Maybe it’s because in two weeks, I will get my next fix of change. And maybe that’s two weeks too long.
But though I’m ready to move on, having called this place my home for two and a half months, I’ve come to adore this city and take a lot from it.
I will always love the street bands at Dupont Circle on Friday nights. Or the distant view of the White House as you walk down to the end of 16th Street, with the Washington Monument peeking through the back.
Or the fact that there are no earthquakes on the East Coast.
And looking back, I have learned a lot about our lovely nation’s capital.
I’ve learned that the monuments and memorials are best seen at night and in the early morning, and that hiking in Virginia along the Potomac is one of the best escapes from city life.
I’ve learned that for “Screen on the Green” at the National Mall, you should arrive at least three hours early and bring wine and cheese to solidify the classic atmosphere at the outdoor film screening.
I’ve learned that journalists can be overly cynical and critical about the government. Working for a foreign assistance agency, there are a lot of good things that aren’t publicized by the media ““ because that’s not what the public wants to hear.
I’ve learned that happy hours with good friends are the pleasantly simplest form of bliss.
I’ve learned that insecurities and doubt can sometimes get the best of you, especially in a new setting. And that’s natural.
I’ve learned that people need their dose of change, and they get it in different ways. Some get married. Some move into new apartments with new roommates. Some pick up a new major. Some start training to run marathons.
I travel.
E-mail Indravudh at pindravudh@media.ucla.edu if you want to swap D.C. stories or want to give her advice on Europe.